The OPTIONS Act of 2023: Mental Health Coverage Changes

Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

If passed, this law would allow individuals with high- health plans to access mental health services without first paying out-of-pocket costs up to $500, potentially lowering the immediate financial burden for those seeking mental health support starting in 2024.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

High-deductible health plan enrollees

These individuals may receive coverage for the first $500 of mental health services without meeting their deductible.

Health insurance providers

Providers must adjust their plan structures to accommodate the new safe harbor for mental health services.

What changed

Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Background

High-deductible health plans are insurance policies that typically require the policyholder to pay a significant amount of medical expenses out-of-pocket before the insurance coverage begins. context

Summary

This bill allows high- health plans to cover up to $500 of mental health services before a patient has to pay their annual deductible. This change aims to remove financial barriers to initial mental health care for people with these specific insurance plans.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this bill apply to all health insurance plans?

No, it specifically applies to 's' as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.

How much of my mental health care will be covered before I hit my deductible?

The bill allows for up to $500 of mental health benefits to be covered without a .

When would this change take effect?

The provisions apply to plan years beginning after December 31, 2023.

Why It Matters

If passed, this law would allow individuals with high- health plans to access mental health services without first paying out-of-pocket costs up to $500, potentially lowering the immediate financial burden for those seeking mental health support starting in 2024.

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Mental Health Parity Adjustment

The bill represents a targeted effort to treat mental health services differently than other medical services within high-deductible health plans by exempting them from standard deductible requirements.

Internal Revenue Code of 1986

Connected Entities

personMr. Fitzpatrick“Bill sponsor”Map →

organizationCommittee on Ways and Means“Committee reviewing the bill”Map →

bill_numberSECTION 1“Section of the bill”Map →

bill_numberInternal Revenue Code of 1986“The legal framework being amended”Map →

dateDecember 31, 2023“Date the changes take effect”Map →

organizationHealth Savings Accounts“The type of account affected”Map →

personMr. Trone“Bill sponsor”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level